By Staff Shore News Today
STONE HARBOR — Community opposition promoted officials to change the location of a proposed September 11 memorial in Stone Harbor.
“There were some concerns in the community about the size and scope of our project which would have also created a passive park and a beautiful point for tribute and reflection at our original location for the memorial,” said Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters. “We listened, and we responded appropriately. Our community can now enthusiastically support the true goal of this memorial… an everlasting tribute to Americans and their families who were personally impacted by the events of September 11, 2001.”
Stone Harbor officials have announced that the site will be on 96th Street between Second Avenue and Seng Place, directly east of the Stone Harbor Volunteer Fire Department. The new location was announced during the Oct. 15 Council meeting by Councilwoman Joan Kramar, who leads the all-volunteer September 11 memorial committee.
“The committee recognizes that in order for this project to move forward, it needed to change both the cost and location of the September 11 memorial, even after the committee was unanimous in selecting its location and design,” Kramar said in a prepared statement. “After a difficult and honest discussion, the committee decided to relocate the memorial from the proposed Point of Peace Memorial Park at the southern end of our community. Many of the same design elements already approved by the committee will be implemented at the new memorial location, with a downsizing of size, scope, and costs. We will be reaching out again to the Cape May County Open Space Board for funding that would support our project.”
The borough has received overwhelming support with this memorial, which will incorporate an artifact from the World Trade Center in New York City. A section of I-beam will be the focal point of the new memorial. Property owners have donated more than $30,000 toward the project.
Stone Harbor has also inked agreements with carpenters and masons who have volunteered to complete the project.
Depending on approval for funding in front of the Cape May County Open Space Board, borough officials hope to have the memorial completed in time for a ceremony on September 11, 2014.
Scott Taylor from Taylor Design Group of Mount Laurel will provide the borough with a new design before the end of the month. The design will be posted at www.shnj.org .
